Versatile cooking seed doubles as medicine
By Sari Huhtala
For decades I’ve cooked with this often overlooked, versatile seed, adding it to soups and homemade coleslaw dressing without even realizing it’s used as a natural treatment for vascular dementia, water retention, joint pain and other ailments.
For thousands of years celery seed has been used as natural medicine to treat colds and flu, edema, digestive and liver issues. Some studies show its compounds, phthalides and apigenin, help to widen blood vessels, potentially lowering blood pressure.
It packs an impressive nutritional profile, with one tablespoon providing 17 per cent of daily iron needs, 12 per cent of daily calcium, 27 per cent of manganese and 9 per cent of daily magnesium, among other vitamins and trace minerals. Celery seeds contain over 20 anti-inflammatory properties, according to The Green Pharmacy.
Researchers discovered the chemical in celery seeds, 3-n-butylphthalide, with its neuroprotective properties, can improve the condition of ischemic stroke patients suffering from vascular dementia. Celery seed extract was approved by the State Food and Drug Administration of China as a clinical therapeutic drug for ischemic stroke patients.
While the seed extract is sold in health food stores, adding whole or crushed seeds to salads, casseroles, soups and in pickling recipes is a simple way to include this super seed into your diet. Find seeds at your local grocery store.
You can even make a celery seed tea by grinding and steeping a tablespoon of seeds in boiled water, then strain and enjoy.
(This information is not intended to replace medical advice and treatment from a health care practitioner).
Sari Huhtala is the creator, publisher and editor of Alive and Fit Magazine, which was created in 2007. She has over 25 years of experience in journalism and over 15 years of experience as a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, and is a holistic chef, offering holistic cooking and edible wilds workshop, and My Farmacy workshops. She is an organic farmer, wild-crafter and grandmother, who has spent over 20 years navigating a holistic, healthy path for her family. Reach her at friends@thelaughingforest.ca
Photo credit: © Michelle Lee via Canva.com
